Hannah Hammoud
Brimbank residents have called on the state government to provide the municipality with its fair share of funding for improved bus services.
A $400 million package of Growth Area Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) funding was announced by the state government on April 24, which included more than $150 million for new bus services across Melbourne’s north, west and south east suburbs.
The GAIC fund includes the local government areas of Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Whittlesea and Wyndham, meaning none of the money will be spent on improving bus services in Brimbank.
Community advocate Graeme Blore said the state government needs to acknowledge the needs of the west and create a “vision” to revitalise it.
“We really are calling on the state government here. We’re sick of words, we want actions. We’re sick of their platitudes,” he said.
“Brimbank is the second largest local government area in metropolitan Melbourne and it’s also one of the most impoverished areas in Melbourne as well … once again Brimbank has missed out. This is an area that suffers massive social disadvantage.”
Mr Blore said improved bus services would help to address social disadvantage, drive down the unemployment rate, and reduce car ownership.
Data released this year from the National Skills Commission revealed Brimbank has Melbourne’s equal highest jobless rate along with Greater Dandenong.
“The unemployment rate is reflective of the problem,” Mr Blore said.
“We still have a situation in Brimbank where residents and Melbourne Airport have called for a bus service to and from Brimbank. Melbourne Airport is the largest employment precinct in the north-west of Melbourne. At present to go from Brimbank to the airport by public transport, you’re required to get a bus – if you can – to a train station, then take the train to North Melbourne, then another train to Broadmeadows, and then another bus to Melbourne Airport. You’re looking at one and a half to two hours each way.”
In January, Melbourne Airport joined in the chorus of calls urging the state government to increase local bus services and has described its current services as ’woeful’.
The airport said an upgrade to local public bus services will better serve the needs of passengers and staff living in surrounding suburbs, particularly Keilor, Sunbury, Taylors Lakes, and Sunshine.
At the time, Melbourne Airport chief of ground transport Jai McDermott said improved bus services could help connect more people in Melbourne’s north-west with job opportunities at the airport.
The state government was contacted for comment.
